WA Grandcarers Support Scheme

What Is This Payment?

The Grandcarers Support Scheme acknowledges that many grandparents have become the full-time carers of their grandchildren, often suddenly and without the support structures available to formal foster carers. It provides an annual cost-of-living payment to ease that burden.

In the rule database this is a Group B benefit with eligibility_only as its result role. Our model does not attach a fixed dollar amount, because the payment is set each year by the Department of Communities; we surface your eligibility and point you to the official source for the current figure.

It is aimed squarely at grandparents raising their grandchildren full-time, rather than grandparents who provide occasional childcare or babysitting.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount block is eligibility_only. In our model there is no fixed dollar figure; the value is an annual cost-of-living payment whose rate is set by the Department of Communities for each round.

• An annual payment recognising the cost of raising grandchildren full-time.
• Check the current amount on the official Department of Communities page before you apply.

We deliberately do not quote a dollar amount here so the figure cannot go stale - the official page is the authority on the current payment.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition below must be true.

1. Western Australian resident: state = WA. The scheme is for WA grandcarers.
2. You are a grandcarer: is_grandcarer = true. You must be a grandparent who is the full-time carer of your grandchildren.

The scheme targets grandparents who carry the day-to-day responsibility for raising their grandchildren, not those who help out part-time. You will need to confirm your carer status when you apply.

Because the scheme recognises full-time caring, grandcarers may also qualify for federal family payments and carer payments for the same children - it is worth checking those alongside this scheme.

How To Apply

The channel is online through the Western Australia Department of Communities, and you will need proof of your carer status.

• Apply online via the Department of Communities Grandcarers Support Scheme page.
• Provide evidence that you are the full-time carer of your grandchildren.
• Confirm the current payment amount and any closing dates on the official page.

Read the official WA Grandcarers Support Scheme guidance

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1: stepping in suddenly

Margaret in Perth took in her two grandchildren after a family crisis. As their full-time carer she applies online, provides proof of her caring role and receives the annual cost-of-living payment.

Scenario 2: long-term arrangement

George in Busselton has raised his grandson for five years. Each year he reapplies and confirms his ongoing carer status to receive the payment.

Scenario 3: occasional babysitting only

Helen in Fremantle minds her grandchildren two afternoons a week, but they live with their parents. She is not the full-time carer, so she does not meet the grandcarer test.

Scenario 4: stacking with federal payments

Robert in Mandurah is the full-time carer of his granddaughter. Alongside the Grandcarers Support Scheme he checks his eligibility for federal family and carer payments for the same child.

Common Mistakes

• Assuming part-time minding counts: the scheme is for grandparents who are the full-time carers of their grandchildren, not occasional babysitters.
• Expecting a guaranteed dollar figure here: we treat it as eligibility_only because the payment is set each round - confirm the current amount on the official page.
• Skipping the evidence step: you must provide proof of your carer status when you apply.
• Not reapplying each year: it is an annual payment, so check the official page each round for the claim window.
• Thinking you cannot also get federal payments: full-time grandcarers may also qualify for federal family and carer payments for the same children.
• Applying from another state: the scheme is for Western Australian grandcarers only.

Related Benefits

• WA State Concession Card - a card unlocking WA concessions.
• WA Student Assistance Payment (Primary) - $150 per primary student.
• WA Hardship Utility Grant Scheme - help with overdue power and water bills.
• Carer Allowance - a federal supplement for carers.
• Carer Payment - federal income support for full-time carers.
• Family Tax Benefit Part A - federal payment for children aged 0-12.

Frequently Asked Questions